Nice popular park , plenty of restroom and a community garden. They even have a water refilling…read morestation . The play ground it huge and a cute theme too

Wow! We went to Leo's Haven at Chanticleer Park and it's amazing. I wish this park was closer to…read morehome. It was just built in 2020 so everything is in great condition. It was built in partnership with Shane's Inspiration (if you've been to Griffith Park, it's the same organization). So, many of the park features are universally accessible. The playground area is spacious and a wonderful safe space for children. There are some climbing areas and slides for toddler age but the larger playground is great for preschool-elementary age. There isn't a ton of shade so bring hats and sunscreen! There are some benches scattered around the park and a few tables outside of the gated area. There is a private lot and street parking. They have bathrooms and they are fairly clean!

Great for hiking. Provided some great scenic views. Got some great photos and felt the ocean mist…read moreright at the edge of some cliffs. After parking you made about a mile walk to where the cliffs overlook the ocean. There is no beach access at this location. Parking with access was $10. Good price for the experience for my family of 3. After the 3 hour drive from Sacramento this visit was the perfect way to stretch our legs and also get some much needed steps in.

What a delightful State Park with medium and short trails that are coastal. We went at the end of…read morethe day, so we couldn't hike very far-- thus, we plan on returning another day when we could arrive earlier with the right gear (snacks, water, sunscreen, hat, camera, etc) because there is SO MUCH to see here! The trails aren't super long to get to cool sites, like seal pups and fern caves, and you get to gaze at beautiful wildflowers and bushes along the way, like giant calla lilies and blackberries. There were also many frogs croaking and birds singing while we were hiking, which created such unexpected symphonies. It also wasn't very crowded. We saw a few groups of casual hikers and a few joggers. There was some construction in areas close to the parking lot that was unsightly and a parking fee, but other than that, everything was just lovely. I can't wait to return to Wilder Ranch for a deeper exploration! [TIP: If you're a serious hiker who's looking for an all day trip, this isn't the location for you. Wilder Ranch is on the easy to medium hike level with trails that are fairly short, like 2.5 miles for one of the popular beach loops. You can, of course, make it a longer hike but exploring multiple trails or crossing the freeway to the other trails, but it is not the kind of location you can get lost. It's perfect for families and people who have a couple hours to spare.]

Beautiful trails with different abilities/stuff to see. I went down to the Garden of Eden because I…read morelove water features. Shady trails with lots of redwoods and water.

Amazing 0.8 mile reasonably level trail through a dense grove of majestic redwood giants. There was…read morealmost no one in the parking lot when I arrived at 9am on a Wednesday but the parking lot was full by noon when I left. There is a California state park gift shop that opens at 10am. Parking is $10 ($9 for seniors over 62). There is also a walkway from the parking lot to the Roaring Camp train station next to the state park.

I love coming to Santa Cruz Beach on the weekends. It's one of my favorite places to relax and…read morerecharge. The ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, and the beautiful scenery instantly make me feel at peace. Compared to the busy city, it feels like a completely different world. Life slows down here, and all the stress just fades away. I'm always looking forward to my next visit.

If you love lighthouses come see this one…read more Food and coffee close by. Closed to look at but the view is worth it. Lots of parking Lots of places to sit and listen to the water.

Don't come here for a kids birthday party without a reservation. They do not have public picnic…read moretables (mostly on weekends), when they are "reserved". Pretty ridiculous to have zero public tables at a public park

Really nice park with a lot of space. It is right by a school. There is a big playground for the…read morekids. If you head up the stairs, there is a huge field with a large running track around it which worked out well for me. BTW, what's the scoop with the blue balls all around, someone has a sense of humor!

5/10/2026--Mother's Day: My second-born daughter, Kris on my right side and first-born daughter,…read moreJoy on my right-strolled on the beach. It's awesome seeing people building sand sculptures, just chilling mesmerized by the ocean waves' sound, and zoning out hearing the seagulls cawing.

Second visit ever. Was already in the area for a day at the Boardwalk. Did street parking on a…read moreSaturday afternoon and walked in on a paved trail past the Monarch Trail and Visitors Center. Continue beyond the parking lot and across the beach to the water to see the famous rock formation. The beach was happening with families barbecuing and throwing footballs around. Nice smaller beach if you're looking for something a bit more secluded/quiet.

malibu barbie and her flock of zesty surfer kens have nothing against me and my beaches. i rule the…read moreocean world with my aesthetic beach pics and pink glitter goggles. i'm at the very top of the aquatic food chain. i am THE mermaid diva. just wanted to say that! anyway santa cruz isn't exactly malibu or socal or hawaii but it's quite nice. the beach has a cool hike with lots of wildlife like deer and birds and snakes! and there are tidal pools with mussels and crabs yum yum! the view is very pretty but it's quite windy. parking isn't bad, not too crowded, cool natural formations. the only thing i don't like is all the flies around the kelp on the shore...but that's nature for ya

Such an awesome beach that feels sort of hidden in plain sight…read more We came here while on the search for tide pools, while we did find tide pools they didn't have the marine life we were hoping for, we did explore some cool natural coves and hang with a seal lion pup. This is a state run beach, so to get that premier and close parking you'll need to pay. It was ten-dollars, but that covered you for the whole day and you could leave and come back if needed. The beach area itself is small, but offers amazing views of the "natural bridges" or rock formations that give its name. My son and I crawled through a small hole in the rock wall that opened up to private cove. The cover was awesome, but not a place where you can lounge due to the tides. The tide pools are located high up on the rocks that are only accessible during low tide. You'll mostly only find sea anemones and a few small crabs. There are some picnic tables here near the back of the beach under some shaded trees, so families can enjoy lunch without leaving. This picnic area butts up to a pond that, I assume, when it's high tide is a direct link to the ocean.

What a gem! Beautiful park with biking and hiking trails, disc golf and golf courses, ball field,…read moreplayground and picnic areas. We came for a UCSC mountain bike race and got to watch some amazing athletes compete from up and down the state. Dogs on leash are allowed on trails. Parking is free.

Parking at the Enchanted Trail Trailhead parking area, I made my way up into De Laveaga Park for a…read morewalk through the Redwoods. I didn't have the chance to make it up to Henry Cowell State Park, but this location seemed a compromise since I was making my way to the Mystery Spot. I meandered through the trails just east of Branciforte Drive. The trails are well groomed, easy to hike with younger children and pets, and it was such a pleasant quiet morning for me. The trees were so tall and impressive, and I enjoyed being out in nature but close to civilization at the same time. If I had more time in the area, I would have spent more time here. I think it is a great location for locals to get out and enjoy nature!